Heating system for rail switches



gamma A ril 19, 1938.

F. H. THOMPSON, JR

HEATING SYSTEM FOR RAIL SWITCHES Filed May 21, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR,

April 19, 1938. F. H. THOMPSON, JR I 2,114,725 I I HEATING SYSTEM FOR RAIL SWITCHES Filed May 21, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet P.

INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

EU I April 19, 1938:, i F. H. THOMPSON; JR 2,114,726

HEATING SYSTEM FOR RAIL SWITCHES Filed May 21, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR,

h'rzbi ff. wavy/ J4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 19, 1938 2,1

OFFIQE UNITED STATES FATE HEATING SYSTEM FOR RAIL SWITCHES Frederick H. Thompson, Jr., Chicopee, Mass.

Application May 21, 1936, Serial No. 80,999

12 Claims. (01. 15896) My invention relates to heating systems for Referring to Figs. 14, inclusive, the burner rail switches, shown and described in my prior unit 9 is built up with an outer, cylindrical casapplication, Serial Number 12,802, filed March ing IS, an inner, cylindrical member 20, an an- 25, 1935, for improvements in Heating systems nular ring member 2i, channel-shaped in cross 5 for rail switches, and the present application is section, between the outer and inner cylinders confined particularly to the burner construction l9 and 28, near the top edge of the member 20, for such systems and is .a continuation in part a supporting plate 22 for the inner cylindrical of said application. 7 member 2%, a supporting'ring 23 for the plate An object of my invention is to provide a burner member 22, and a bottom, or base, plate 2 for for rail heating systems which is simpleandsturdy the outer casing 18. These parts are welded, or 10 in construction, capable of being installed, reotherwise secured together, to provide a strong, moved, and operated by inexperienced labor, and sturdy, and unitary structure. The inner, cyadaptable for compact storage, when not in use. lindrical member 20 is filled with a wicking ma- This, and other objects and advantages of my terial 25 which, during operation of the burner,

invention will be more completely disclosed and is saturated with a liquid fuel. The member 28 15 described in the specification, the accompanying projects slightly above the ring member 2!, as drawings, and the appended claims. shown at 29', to provide an annular, collecting A preferred embodiment of my invention is channel 25 for ice, snow, or water, which may illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in drop into the burner El, and openings 21, in the which: outer casing i9, provide drainage for the chan- 20 Fig. lis an elevational view of one of the burner nel 26, to the outside of the casing it. The casunits, ing I9 projects above the member 2Q to provide Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view on the line a barrier between the flame of the burner and 2-2 of Fig. 1. the ties between which the burner is located.

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view on the line 33 Openings 28, in the plate 22, and openings 29, in 25 of Fig. 2. the ring 23, provide a free path for liquid fuel, Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View on the line 4-4 within the outer casing l9. Openings 3G, in the of Fig. 2. inner, cylindrical member 228, permit the liquid Fig. 5 is a detail View, showing a heater infuel to enter the member 20 from the casing I9,

30 stalled for heating a railway switch. and thereby, saturate the wicking 25. 30

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a burner, illustrating A plate 3!, welded, or otherwise secured to the a modified form of cover construction for the base plate 24 of the casing l9, has secured thereburner wick. on a sleeve member 32 and a tapered valve mem- Fig. '7 is a partial sectional view on the line 'l'l ber 33. The pipe fitting it is provided with an of Fig. 6. upwardly extending boss 34 and is formed with 35 Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view on the line a tapered valve seat 35. When the burner 9 88 of Fig. '7. is assembled on the fitting ill, the upwardly ex- Fig. 9 is a partial el-evational view, partially in tending boss 34 lies between the valve member section, on the line 99 of Fig. 7. 33 and the sleeve 32. The sleeve 32 is provided 40 Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. .6, illustrating with lugs, or studs 36, which engage in the arc- 40 a further modification of cover construction. p ay 0135 me n t e b Fig. 11 is a partial sectional view on the line to hold the burner in position on the fitting it. I l-! I of Fig. 10. The ends of the horizontal portions of the slots Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11, showing the 31 provide stops for open and closed positions halves of the cover raised. of the valve 33, as indicated in Fig. 4. The 45 Fig. 13 is a partial elevational view, showing valve 33 is formed with a vertical, axial opening the cover-operating levers. 38 which. at its'upper end, registers with an Referring now to the drawings in detail, in opening 39, through the plates 2 and 3|, and which like numerals refer to like parts throughat its lower end, merges into a horizontal openout: ing 40. A second, horizontal opening M is formed 50 One of the rails is indicated at 2, which is supin the valve 33 with its axis at right angles to ported on a roadbed 8, in the usual manner. Oil the axis of the opening 40. When the valve is burner units 9 are located beneath the rail 2. in operating, or open position, as indicated in .The burner units 9 are removably secured on Fig. 2, liquid fuel entering the fitting H] from pipefittings H]. the pipe l2 flows through the opening 40 and 55 also upward through the opening 38, into the casing l9. When the burner 9 is revolved degrees, the valve 33 is turned to closed position, in which position, fuel entering the fitting Hi from the pipe i2, willflow through the opening 4! into the pipe ll, thereby continuing to supply other burners, if desired, in the system, but access to the casing l8, through the opening 38, will be shut off. By turning the burner 8 to a halfway position between open and closed position, the studs 36 will register with the vertical portions 31 of the slots 3?, and the burner 9, including the sleeve 32 and valve 33, may be lifted and removed from the fitting i 8.

A cover 42, movably supported above the wick chamber 28, serves to control the amount of oxygen available to the wicking 25 and to protect the chamber 28 and its contents from the drip of ice, snow, or water. The cover 42 is supported by means of the lug 43 on the diametrically located rod 44. The rod 44 is provided with aknob 46 and a thumb nut 41. The rod 44 is engaged in the oppositely disposed slots 48 formed in the outer casing 89. Moving this rod in the slots 48 will cause its opposite ends to move in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows 49 in Fig. 3, thereby causing the cover 42 to descend toward the cylindrical member 28. As the top edge l9 of the casing 19 is intended to be located close to the under side of the switch rails, additional openings 55 may be provided in the casing H) to permit entrance of suflicient air for efficient combustion. A bail 5!, secured on the casing l9, provides for easy handling of the burner and for turning. the same for insertion in and removal from the pipe fitting it. A stud 52 is also secured on the plate 3! to provide means for turning the burner 9 in the fitting Ill, when the burner is located under the switch rails and the bail is not available for use.

In Figs. 6, '7, and 8, I have illustrated a modified form of cover for the wick chamber 28. A shelf member 53, formed with side portions 54, is secured on the outside of the casing l9, and a slot 55 is formed in the casing l9 immediately above the shelf 53. A slide 56, formed with side portions 51, is slidably supported on the shelf 53 and guided by engagement of the side portions 51 with the sides 54 of the shelf 53 and with the wick-enclosing chamber 20. The slide 55 is adjustably secured on the shelf 53 by a stud 58 on the shelf 53, engaged in a slot 59, formed in the slide 56, and a wing nut 68. Openings 6| may be formed in the casing I9 to provide sufficient air to the wick chamber 28. With this form of cover, the areaof flame derived from the wick chamber 25 may be regulated by covering a portion of the top of the chamber 28, and the flame may be extinguished by completely covering the chamber 28 with the slide 56. The sides of the slide 56 are tapered at 62 to provide a maximum of angle of revolution of the burn-er 9, between the ties 1.

A further modified form of cover is illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13. This cover is made in two semi-circular halves, 63 and 64, and the part 64 is provided with an offset and rabbeted lip portion 65 for overlapping the end of the part 63, when the covers are closed, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The parts 63 and 64 are hinged at 66 and 61, respectively, on rods 68 and 69, and these rods are pivotally supported in bosses 10 on the casing l9. Levers H, secured on the rods 68and 69, outside of the casing I9, provide means for revolving the rods 68 and 69 and thereby raising or lowering the covers 63 and 64, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

What I claim is:-

1. A burner for the purpose described comprising, inner and outer cylindrical members formed and assembled to provide an annular space between the same, means for connecting and spacing said members from each other, a base plate, a conductor for liquid fuel, a plug fixedly secured to the base plate of the burner and removably connected to said conductor and formed with an axial bore for conducting the liquid fuel from said conductor through the plug and into the space between the outer and inner members, the inner casing having openings for permitting the oil to flow from the outer to the inner casing, said inner casing having wick material therein for absorbing said liquid fuel.

2. In a liquid fuel burner, inner and outer casing members, a ring member, the outer casing being secured to the, inner casing and spaced therefrom by said ring member, said outer casing being provided with oppositely inclined slots, the

inner casing extending above the ring member and having a wick therein, a cover for closing the upper end of the wick-receiving member said cover being mounted for movement toward and away from said inner casing, a rod in said slots on which said cover is secured, for varying the position of the cover, whereby the rate of com- 'bustion of the liquid fuel in the burner is controlled, said outer casing being extended above the upper edge of the inner casing.

3. A burnerfor the purpose described comprising, inner and outer members, ring means for connecting and spacing said members from each other, a conductor for liquid fuel, communicating means between said conductor and said outer member, the inner member having openings for permitting the oil to flow from the outer member into the inner member, said inner member having wick material therein, a cover for the inner member, and means for moving the cover onto and away from the top of the inner member, said means comprising slots in the outer member, and a rod engaged in said slots and connected to the cover.

4. A burner construction for the purpose described having, in combination, inner and outer cylinders, a loosely massed wick material in the inner cylinder, means for spacing the cylinders relative to each other comprising a ring member located adjacent the upper edge of the inner cylinder, a cover for closing the upper end of the inner cylinder, the outer cylinder having openings located above the ring member, and means for conducting liquid fuel to the wick-material in the inner cylinder.

5. A burner apparatus for the purpose described comprising, a cylindrical outer casing, a cylindrical inner casing, ring means for spacing one casing from the other, an oil absorbent material in said inner casing, a conductor for a liquid fuel provided with an outlet port, said inner casing being provided with openings for permitting a flow of liquid fuel into the inner casing from said outer casing, fuel conducting means between said outer casing and the outlet port in said conductor.

6. A burner for the purpose described comprising'vertically positioned cylindrical inner and outer members open at the top, ring means for connecting and spacing said members'from each other, a base plate connected to the said outer member and having an opening, a. conductor of liquid fuel, a plug fixedly secured to the base plate of the burner and formed with a pas sage ay communicating with said conductor whereby the fuel may enter the space between the inner and outer members, the inner member being provided with openings communicating 'ith said. space, wick material in said inner member, a cover for the inner member, and means for moving the cover relative to the open top of said inner member for varying the heating effect of the burner and for protecting the wick material from rain and snow.

7. A burner for the purpose described comprising inner and outer vertically positioned cylinders open at the top and assembled to provide an annular space between them, ring members for connecting and spacing said cylinders, a conductor for liquid fuel, a plug on said cu"or cylinder formed with an opening communicating with said conductor, a wick material loosely massed in said inner cy inder, said inner cylinder being provided with ports communicating with said annular space, said outer cylinder extending above said inner cylinder and being provided with openings communicating with the space above said inner cylinder, cover means for closing the top of said inner cylinder, and means for operating said cover means.

8. In a burner construction for the purpose described, inner and outer cylinders open at the top, a ring member for spacing said cylinders, hinged cover members for closing the top of said inner cylinder, and means for operating said cover members to open and close them, said outer cylinder being provided with a plurality of openings located above said ring member.

9. In a burner construction for the purpose described, inner and outer cylinders, open at the top, a ring member for spacing said cylinders, semi-circular flanged cover members for closing the top of said inner cylinder, and means for operating said covers to open and close them, said outer cylinder extending above said inner cylinder to, enclose said cover members when said cover members are in open position, said outer cylinder being provided with openings above said ring member.

10. A burner for the purpose described comprising inner and outer vertically positioned cylinders assembled to provide an annular space between them and a space between the bottom of the inner cylinder and the bottom of the outer cylinder, ring members for connecting and spacing said cylinders, a conductor for liquid fuel, a nipple on the bottom of said outer cylinder and communicating with said conductor and the space between the bottoms of said cylinders, a wick material loosely packed in said inner cylinder, said inner cylinder being provided with ports communicating with said annular space, oppositely hinged cover members for closing the top of said inner cylinder, and means for op erating said cover members, each independent of the other, said outer cylinder extending above said cover members when said cover members are open.

11. In a liquid fuel burner for heating railway switches, an outer cylindrical casing, an inner cylindrical casing, said casings being coaxial and spaced to provide an annular chamber between them, said outer casing being provided with an opening in its side and aligned with the top of said inner casing, means for closing the upper end of the inner casing comprising a slidable plate located in the opening of the outer casing, a support for said plate for guiding the same, and means for securing the plate in different positions of adjustment over the upper end of the inner casing.

12. A burner construction for the purpose described comprising an outer open-topped cylindrical casing, an inner open-topped cylindrical casing positioned within said outer casing and relatively smaller in diameter than said outer casing, whereby an annular chamber is provided between said casings, the inner casing being filled with loosely massed Wick material, means for conducting liquid fuel into said annular chamber, said inner cylinder being formed with a plurality of openings serving as communicating means between said wick material and said annular chamber.

FREDERICK H. THOMPSON, JR. 

